Perth family mourn Australian Craig Laidley, man who died rescuing a drowning German tourist in Bali

An Australian man who was swept away by "extreme" waves at a beach in Bali has been found dead, local authorities said Friday. The 56-year-old man, named Craig Laidley, was pulled into the sea by the waves on Wednesday afternoon after rescuing a German tourist who was drowning, triggering a large-scale search operation. The German tourist who was rescued is now safe.

Laidley’s family said he was "brave and heroic." His brothers traveled from Western Australia to Bali to assist in the search, only to learn the devastating news upon arrival. Indonesian rescue authorities said the body of the father of two was found around 10 am local time today (1 pm AEST) at Secret Bay Beach, less than a kilometer from where he was last seen.

According to the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office, Laidley was swept away by currents at Balian Beach on Bali's southwest coast, about 30 kilometers from Denpasar. Laidley had moved to Bali from Perth several years ago. His family told 9News that his actions were not surprising, describing him as a man who "brought kindness, strength, light and laughter to those around him."

While Craig's family grieves the loss of a beloved father, son, and brother, they now also face the immense task of bringing him home for a farewell. They hope his heroic spirit will inspire others to act bravely and selflessly, and to reach out to those in need. Nyoman Sidakarya, head of the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office, had earlier stated that 10 members of his team tried to find the missing Australian man from Perth on Wednesday night and conducted another search yesterday afternoon.

They used rubber boats and other vessels, but the conditions were extremely difficult. Sidakarya said, "Information from the field team indicated that the wave conditions were extreme, and during the search, no trace of the victim was found." A relative of Craig's, Jayke Laidley, had posted on social media, calling for help in finding him. "Our uncle/brother/son (Craig) was last seen yesterday at 4pm helping a man who was reportedly drowning in the water between the rocks at Tebing Balian near Balian Beach," he wrote. "After saving the man's life, he was seen being swept back out to sea."

Kate Ferguson, National Media Vice-President of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, said the man he rescued was a German named Micro Stalla. "Our family would be incredibly grateful if anyone has any information regarding the whereabouts of Craig Laidley," she wrote. "We will continue to pray to all gods that he is returned safely," she wrote. "He radiated such bright, beautiful energy and was loved by so many." Nyoman Sidakarya, head of the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office, said 10 members of his team tried to find the Australian man on Wednesday night.